American National Bank & Trust Has $2.71 Million Stock Holdings in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

American National Bank & Trust raised its holdings in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 182.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,106 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 14,930 shares during the period. American National Bank & Trust’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $2,708,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in DUK. Sheets Smith Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 27,999 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,282,000 after buying an additional 365 shares during the period. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 21,870.0% during the 4th quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 2,197 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 2,187 shares in the last quarter. Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd. bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth $216,000. Aspiriant LLC lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 34.2% during the fourth quarter. Aspiriant LLC now owns 4,484 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $526,000 after purchasing an additional 1,143 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marino Stram & Associates LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Marino Stram & Associates LLC now owns 18,051 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,116,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently weighed in on DUK shares. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $115.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $136.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $137.80.

Insider Buying and Selling at Duke Energy

In other news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total value of $123,001.32. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 3,896 shares in the company, valued at $498,142.56. This represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total transaction of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. This trade represents a 23.61% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK opened at $132.28 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $127.65 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $123.51. Duke Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $111.22 and a 12 month high of $134.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $102.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.93 and a beta of 0.46.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 15.41%.The firm had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.57 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.66 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th were given a $1.065 dividend. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 67.41%.

Duke Energy News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Duke Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Investor/analyst bullishness driven by clean‑energy and nuclear strength — recent coverage highlights that DUK has risen materially over the past months on a story of nuclear stability and aggressive renewable expansion, supporting the stock’s momentum. Duke Energy Stock Rises 11.7% in 3 Months: Should You Buy Now?
• Positive Sentiment: Utilities sector strength and defensive flows (e.g., VPU outperformance) are supporting investor demand for regulated names like Duke. This sector tailwind can help stabilize the stock amid company‑specific noise. VPU Is Up 7% While the S&P 500 Falls…
• Neutral Sentiment: Spire has closed the acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas (previously part of Duke’s asset sales), which reduces Duke’s gas footprint but provides cash proceeds management can redeploy or use to shore up the balance sheet—net effect depends on how proceeds are used. Spire Closes Piedmont Natural Gas Acquisition, Expands in Tennessee
• Neutral Sentiment: Community and safety outreach (811 safe‑digging campaigns with Piedmont) and PR items continue; positive for regulatory relations but unlikely to move fundamentals materially. Duke Energy, Piedmont highlight 811 safety during digging season
• Neutral Sentiment: Operational/legal misc.: Duke sued over abandoned boats on Lake Norman — mostly a localized legal/reputational matter with limited broad financial impact. Duke Energy sues over abandoned boats on Lake Norman
• Negative Sentiment: Rate‑hike proposal faces heavy backlash at North Carolina Utilities Commission hearings — large turnout of angry customers and local officials increases the risk of rate relief being scaled back or delayed, a direct regulatory threat to near‑term revenue recovery. Duke Energy rate hike proposal draws backlash at NCUC hearings
• Negative Sentiment: Strong consumer pushback in North Carolina — profiles of customers saying they can’t afford higher bills amplify political/regulatory pressure and could influence the NCUC’s final decision. ‘There are days I don’t even turn anything on.’ Ratepayers push back against Duke Energy Progress rate hikes
• Negative Sentiment: NC Utilities Commission will formally consider Duke’s rate request — that formal regulatory review is a binary event: approval as filed would boost earnings; modifications or delays would be a headwind, so outcome uncertainty is weighing on sentiment. NC Utilities Commission to consider Duke Energy’s request for rate hike

Duke Energy Profile

Duke Energy Corporation is a U.S.-based electric power holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s core business is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Duke Energy operates a mix of regulated electric utilities and non-regulated energy businesses, providing essential energy infrastructure and services across multiple states.

Its operating activities include owning and operating generation assets across a portfolio that encompasses nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and an expanding array of renewable resources, as well as battery storage and grid modernization projects.